Community colleges respond to uncertainty for immigrant students

The election of Donald Trump as president is causing anxiety across college campuses for immigrant students who are protected by a federal program from deportation, prompting student and administration activism nationwide.

Trump said during his campaign that he would repeal the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which allows immigrants who arrived in the United States as children to work and study in the country. He also has advocated for building a wall on the United States and Mexico border and deporting millions of immigrants without documentation.

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Since winning the election, Trump has stepped back from those comments and said he wants to find a solution for those who came to the country as children.

Trump could easily boost deportations by more than 75% in his first year in office by giving more authority to Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, according to Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach.

Students have been pushing college presidents and administrators to protect their classmates from deportation, making the campuses sanctuaries.

Many four-year colleges in Maryland have spoken out in favor of DACA, but regional community colleges have been less vocal on the issue.

While protests broke out after Trump's win on the campuses of University of Maryland, College Park; Johns Hopkins University; Towson University; and other colleges, Anne Arundel Community College students said their campus has been quiet.

Many of the state's four-year colleges have also signed a national petition asking Trump to keep the program. So far, Prince George's Community College is the only Maryland community college to sign.

At AACC, the issue has not been discussed between its administrators, students or board of trustees, said school spokesman Dan Baum.

The Rev. Dr. Diane Dixon-Proctor, board chairwoman, said the board will see what happens with the next federal administration before taking up the issue.

For the fall term, the community college enrolled 82 students who pay tuition under the Maryland Dream Act. They do not track students under the federal program.

He said school administration should protect students who face deportation.

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Thomas MacAlester, another sophomore, said he doesn't believe federal agents would target college students. But he doesn't want college leaders to disobey laws to protect students.

"People should follow rules," he said. He also added that college administrations shouldn't take political stances or pick a fight with the new federal administration that may damage their reputation.

Bailey James, a sophomore at the college, said she's seen a classmate lose family to deportation and wishes administrators could provide protection. But she doesn't see how the school administrator can oppose federal agents.

As colleges face pressure from students to push back against potential deportations, administrators are scrambling to understand their authority on the issue.

The president of Prince George's Community College, Dr. Charlene Dukes, said school officials are obligated to follow laws. She said the board of trustees will discuss how school officials can support and protect students, and various proposals that arose from the national discussion around sanctuary campuses.

There are 90 students who are enrolled in the federal program and 26 students in Prince George's Community College who pay tuition under the Maryland Dream Act this fall.

Since the election, school staff invited organizations that support immigrant students to talk about what the election means for them, Dukes said.

Howard Community College's vice president of student services, Dr. Cynthia Peterka, said in a prepared statement that students under the federal and state programs have met with college advisers to talk through their future.

"I know they are concerned about the future and what it may mean for their education and career goals," she said in the statement.

Similarly, Dr. James Ball, president of Carroll Community College, said in a prepared statement: "Our interest at Carroll Community College is that all students have the opportunity to pursue higher education and a better quality of life."

Harford Community College declined to comment on the issue. The president's office said this is not an issue for the school yet.